AllFreeNovel
Share Us
“You’re just in time.” Frank beamed, bear-hugging me. “Did you have a good time last night? I did.” He chunked my chin. “Looks like somebody had a little too much fun.”
With rosy cheeks and her hair unusually loose around her shoulders, Mom grabbed my hands. “We’re going to Thailand! Can you believe it?”
“Thailand. Nice,” I croaked.
“What should we bring you home?” she asked as she double-checked her purse, presumably for her passport.
Frank raised his index finger. “How about a monkey? I hear they hang out anywhere, in houses and restaurants.”
I had to clear my throat before answering. It cracked anyway. “No thanks, Frank. No wild animals.”
“All right, then.” He clapped. “Asia awaits, Mrs. Santos. Let’s get going.” He held the door open.
Mom kissed my cheek. “Make sure you turn the alarm on before you go to bed.”
“Okay.”
“And water the plants in the foyer.”
“I will. Have a good time.”
“I left some cash in front of the coffeepot.”
“Honey, she can handle it,” Frank said, laughing as he drew her into the limo and shut the door. Mom blew kisses from the window when they drove off, and as soon as they were out of sight, I made my way into the house.
I headed to Frank’s den, decorated with leather recliners and a sectional. Long shelves were stacked with hundreds of movies, and a projector screen hung down from the ceiling. I took a running leap onto the couch, pulled a knit blanket around me, and drifted off to sleep for a long winter’s nap.
CHAPTERTWENTY-ONE
Jason
Wednesday afternoon, I drummed my fingers on my desk. A cold cup of coffee sat untouched next to the phone as I read the report in front of me for the hundredth time. I cursed and sank down in my chair as my mind wandered to Gemma. Also for the hundredth time.
I’d texted her once every day since the wedding, and even though I understood why she was upset, I still half expected her to respond. The scent of vanilla followed me everywhere; I couldn’t get it out of my head. I dreamed of her pink lips, her fingers in my hair, and her naked back under my palm. Even those minor physical remembrances of her had me waking up every morning painfully hard.
I had to see her, convince her of the truth. I felt nothing for Bridget because Gemma had stolen my heart from the moment we met, no matter how hard we both fought against it. I’d briefly toyed with the idea of going to her apartment, but I knew she’d hate that—find it wholly presumptuous—and probably not let me in anyway. So, there wasn’t much left for me to do. Maybe tomorrow I would go to her yoga studio. It was public, and she couldn’t very well throw me out of the class.
Or could she? I wouldn’t put it past her.
Setting aside that particular debate, I laser focused back on the report, and by the time I checked the time again, it was after eight o’clock. The floor had emptied except for the maintenance workers. I still needed to send out a contract Frank had signed, but after scouring his desk and Joann’s office, the papers were nowhere to be found. The only other place I knew to look was Frank’s home office.
Everything was dark when I opened Frank’s front door. I shut the alarm off, flipped a few light switches, then went upstairs, where I rustled through desk drawers and a filing cabinet before finally locating the folder I needed. Sudden movement caught my eye, and I reared back. Gemma was there, a flip-flop raised over her head as if she were about to pummel me with it.
“Oh my god, Jason.” She heaved out a breath and slumped backward. “What are you doing here?”
“What am I doing here? What areyoudoing here? And did you really think you could do actual damage with a flip-flop?”
“It’s the only weapon I had.” When she tossed the shoe at me, I batted it away. “And I asked you first.”
“I need to send this contract out.” I held up the papers as evidence and watched the fear drain from her eyes, replaced by fire, apparently remembering herself.
“How’d you get in?”
“I know the alarm code and have keys.” I held up said keys. “I did live here. What’s your excuse?”
“House-sitting.” She brushed her hair back from her face, the movement calling focus to her body. I’d been too preoccupied before to notice she wore only underwear and a thin white shirt. I could see right through it.
I forced my eyes up from her nipples, and for fuck’s sake, I deserved an award for that. “Did you get my text messages?”
